If that sorry excuse of a coach is going to be here this season i agree pau should step up and ask to play with the bench players and finish the games with the other guys. I don't care if he starts the games or if he's brought from the bench like Manu, but this team is so awful right now that something big have to be made.

CaCHooKa Man wrote:james worthy implied that Hill should start instead of pau. i laughed but it might not be a bad idea with the way paus been playing lately.

I thought of this idea too. Hill is faster on the defensive rotations which is really being compromised with Gasol. I really don't get the reason why he is. Tired legs? Miscommunication? Confusion? Hell, I'd even consider Ebanks starting at the 3 for the same reason. If Nash were playing, he'd find them for scores even if they are both offensively undeveloped at this early point in their playing careers.

bruddahmanmatt wrote:Start 'Tawn at the 4, bring Gasol in off the bench at the 5, play Hill behind Jamison. Gasol gets to play down low, doesn't have to guard the opposing team's starting 4, and Jamison stretches the floor for Dwight and is a better garbage man than Pau anyway.

I brought up this idea as well. I know it's kind of absurd to have a bench player making 19 million a year or whatever Pau is making this year, but I don't think he can play the 4 anymore, he's lost a lot of his lateral quickness and speed (and he didn't have much to begin with).

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^ It certainly looks that way, which is kind of terrifying to be honest. 19 million shouldn't be acting or playing that way defensively.

I think offensively he's looked better this season. More aggressive and attacking more. But defensively he's been flat out awful. He gets beat off of the dribble REPEATEDLY. He always gives the opposition the baseline hoping to trap him I guess, but he doesn't have the speed to do it. He needs to defend straight up.

The Utah frontcourt, Millsap in particularly always seem to give Pau trouble. I just don't see the Lakers holding onto him playing like this for very long. We may just cut our losses and take what we can get for him...

^^It's not about "box score" defense.... Even you have to concede that he is completely lost when the other team attacks the hoop.... the guard getting through the pick and roll and passing to Howard's man for a layup won't show up in that analysis. Nor will the rotational cover of a SF flying by him for an offensive rebound.

Defense is a team effort.... you can't quantify it like that....

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